The development of communicative competence : the ontogenesis of joint co-ordinated interaction between mother and infant.

Abstract:

An analysis of mother-infant interaction during the preverbal
period has revealed the importance of gaze in establishing the
phatic channel and in the development of an intersubjectivity
between them. Before the infant starts speaking there are
behavioural indices of intersubjectivity - this enables complex
tasks to be jointly accomplished. Seven stages in the ontogenesis of joint co-ordinated activity
have been identified. It is argued that there is a continuity
of function between these preverbal communicative actions and
later verbal behaviour. The two theories providing the theoretical basis for this research
are Speech Act Theory (Searle 1969) and Piaget's (1953, 1970)
theory of cognitive development. Some modification of these
theories has been necessary.